Founder – Glasssutra

Reshmi Dey

India’s first Glass Educator

In 1999, Reshmi Dey, an Economics and Mathematics graduate, turned her back to the corporate world to follow her heart. She found her calling in the creative glass industry. A novice to the world of glass, it was an uphill effort for Reshmi to absorb herself in this esoteric world, learn the art and then become a commercial success.

Her intense work with the generations-old business families of Firozabad, the “Glass Capital” of India, exposed her to the ground realities of the commercial aspects of the profession, as well as an understanding of the conveyor-belt processes, ingredients, mixes, stages of production and undying respect for the relationship between the worker and the furnace.

However, confronted with the lack of understanding of the material, knowledge of various techniques, limited skill, and lack of a professional approach within the industry, Reshmi embarked on a formal training in glass techniques and technology with a specialization in hot glass blowing at The International Glass Centre in Dudley, United Kingdom.

In 2017, Reshmi established India’s first public access glass art studio, along with the company Glass Sutra Studio Pvt. Ltd. in New Delhi. The studio and the brand is a result of her extensive insight and experience of over one decade in the creative glass industry. Defying the odds, in a primarily masculine industry, Reshmi was able to open India’s first glass art studio.

Reshmi’s journey into the world of glass making has proved to be rewarding. From creating handcrafted tableware and decorative pieces, she has evolved into a designer of glass installations, decorative lightings, and artwork. Reshmi is constantly challenging her own creativity to achieve her greater “mission.” She has honed her craft with global glassmaking experts, and with Glass Sutra she brings her international perspective to the country. Over the years, Reshmi has visited workshops of global artists and institutions to understand the nuances to set up an international level glass studio in India.

Presently, under Reshmi Dey’s leadership, Glass Sutra has been innovating and delivering elegant glass products. Her unique design sensibilities, eye for detail, and penchant for perfection reflects in Glass Sutra’s offerings. With Reshmi at the helm, Glass Sutra is continuing its endeavor to establish itself as a trailblazing glass art company and studio in thecountry.

An avid traveller, Reshmi seeks inspiration from the natural environment and her journey around the world. She is also a red wine and single malt connoisseur. Reshmi enjoys learning and understanding the complex process of wine and whisky making and the meticulous steps involved to develop a beautiful product. Her work with glass involves a similar finesse. Moreover, Reshmi’s love for life and the energy she expresses is so infectious that everyone feels at home around her.

Furthermore, Reshmi Dey is also a social entrepreneur. She frequently undertakes various social outreach programmes for the underprivileged, especially the girl child. Reshmi has not forgotten her humble roots and the hardships she faced as a woman in a male-dominated industry.

Reshmi Dey was born to work with glass, glass is the singular medium of her expression, and it is her hope that the democratization of glass will percolate through our society.

Year 1999

Reshmi Dey, started her creative and entrepreneurial journey in the year 1999 under the banner – ‘My Creation’ after being introduced to the glass industry in the Firozabad bylanes.

Year 2000

She learnt the basics of glass making though her first hands on approach, with the ‘Center for the Development of the Glass Industries’ (CDGI), Firozabad in the year 2000.

Year 2001

The artists introduction to ‘studio art glass’ happened in the year 2001 under the guidance of Czech Maestro Petre Novotny and his then assistant, now a well renowned Glass Sculptor, Martin Jenesky.

Year 2002

Being confronted with the various challenges within the glass industry of India, Reshmi enrolled herself in a formal training in glass techniques and technology at ‘The International Glass Centre, Dudley, U.K.’, with a specialization in hot glass blowing in the year 2002, on a scholarship.

Year 2003

After her training at Dudley, year 2003 onwards, the mecca of International handcrafted glass, Murano in Venice, Italy where the maestros of glass like Pino Signoretto, Lino Tagliapietra, Dino Rosin and others create their masterpieces, was explored and experienced by Reshmi many times over.

Year 2009

Reshmi had consulted and facilitated The International Labour Organisation (ILO) for the Skill Development Programme four years between 2009 -2013. She facilitated the ILO by providing technical assistance for the consolidation of methodologies and operational framework in glass; along with creating competency standards for these allied materials to be used for training young craft persons by empowering them socially and economically for this new skill-based training.

Year 2011

Year 2011 onwards she has been travelling extensively to creative glass centres around the world in the pursuit of a more artistic and professional approach.Her journey into the world of glass took her all over America and Europe.

She travelled to Sweden, Germany, Czech Republic, Seattle (Tacoma and Pilchuk Glass School), Corning Museum of Glass, Corning, New York and many other studios in America; while also regularly participating in the annual GAS conference (Glass Art Society Conference), USA as one of the foremost artist representing India, to learn, explore and bring back wholesome experiences, to share with the country through Studio Glass Sutra.

Year 2016

Reshmi Dey was presented with a ‘Senior Fellowship’ awarded by the Ministry of Culture, Government of India, on 2016 to research on the ‘Relevance of Technology in Glass Art & Craft’ by studying its various aspects.

Year 2016, January, ‘Bullseye Glass’, Portland, USA, one of the biggest hand-rolled flat glass manufacturing companies in the world, invited Reshmi to join their EDUCATOR’s Workshop because of her pioneering work in creating an Art Glass Studio in India which will promote education and training in Kiln Formed glass.

Year 2017

Year 2017 saw the further enhancement of India’s first state-of-the-art, Art Glass Studio ‘Glass Sutra’ providing a space to Reshmi and all those working under her patronage to express their artistic inclination, originality, innovation, and experimentation through glass.

Reshmi Dey

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